TUK lecturers threaten to down tools over delayed salaries

Technical University of Kenya staff plan to go on strike from January 14, 2025, to demand salaries. [File, Standard] Learning could be disrupted yet again in some public universities after lecturers and other staff threatened to down tools over delayed salaries. Trouble is brewing at Technical University of Kenya (TUK) after the government failed to resolve the delayed payment of December 2024 salaries. TUK Chapter Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Secretary Fred Sawanje announced on Monday that they will go on strike from January 14, 2025, to demand salaries. "We shall hold a major picket to present petitions to the National Assembly, the Ministries of Finance, Treasury and Education over the financial situation at the university," said Sawanje. "We are therefore demanding that the government through the Ministry of Education and the University Council pay our members their December 2024 salaries immediately," he added. The staff also want the government to address other issues related to financial obligations of the employer. They said they have already notified police about the planned demonstration. Uasu, Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) criticised the government and TUK management for failing to pay staff on time. The unions termed the delayed salaries a violation of workers' rights under the Employment Act 2007 and the Kenyan Constitution. "Our members have not received their December 2024 salaries after offering their services as per their contractual terms," the unions said. The unions said the delayed salaries have compounded financial challenges for TUK staff and also cited non-remittance of statutory and third-party deductions as a key issue. They noted that loan repayments have remained outstanding for more than ten months, exposing workers to prosecution, blacklisting by credit reference bureaus and auction threats. "Members cannot get clearance from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) due to outstanding PAYE amounting to over Sh4.1 billion," the unions stated. The unions further accused the university of neglecting staff promotions, particularly for young scholars who have completed their studies but remain on contract. "We demand immediate payment of December salaries and a resolution to these long-standing financial grievances. If this is not addressed, the Technical University of Kenya risks a complete shutdown," the unions warned.

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